How to give and receive feedback

Feedback is the currency of growth, yet most professionals struggle to give it constructively or receive it without defensiveness. In any collaborative environment—whether you're leading a team, mentoring a colleague, or working cross-functionally—the ability to exchange honest, actionable feedback directly impacts performance, trust, and continuous improvement. This course equips you with the frameworks and communication skills to turn feedback from a source of anxiety into a tool for development. The programme covers four core modules. First, you'll explore the psychology of feedback: why people resist criticism, the role of cognitive biases, and how to create psychological safety. Second, you'll learn structured techniques such as the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) model, the Pendleton rules for peer feedback, and the Stop-Start-Continue framework. Third, the course delves into receiving feedback: active listening strategies, separating intent from impact, and using reflective questioning to extract actionable insights. Fourth, you'll examine cultural and contextual variations in feedback norms, including high- versus low-context communication styles and power dynamics. Each module includes real-world case studies from sectors such as healthcare, technology, and education. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to common pitfalls and how to avoid them. You'll analyze scenarios where feedback backfires—such as the sandwich technique's hidden manipulation, vague praise that undermines credibility, or timing mistakes that trigger defensiveness. Through guided exercises, you'll practice reframing criticism into specific, observable behaviors and calibrating your language for different situations (e.g., written vs. verbal, urgent vs. routine). The methodology emphasizes deliberate practice with peer simulations and self-assessment rubrics, ensuring you can apply the principles immediately. This course is designed for managers and team leads who need to give performance reviews and daily coaching; human resources professionals designing feedback systems; junior developers transitioning from individual contributor to mentor roles; healthcare clinicians conducting peer reviews or patient-safety debriefs; and educators providing constructive feedback to students or colleagues. By the end of the course, you will have a clear framework for preparing, delivering, and receiving feedback in any professional setting. You'll be able to distinguish between evaluative and developmental feedback, apply specific models like SBI and Pendleton's rules, and interpret feedback conversations through the lens of emotional intelligence. You will also possess a vocabulary for discussing feedback dynamics with colleagues and a structured approach to self-reflection that turns criticism into concrete action steps. Most importantly, you'll understand how to maintain collaborative relationships even when the message is difficult.